Royal Australian Navy Space Craft

Royal Australian Navy Space Craft

Back in the 1970s when the Royal Australian Navy operated A-4s from the carrier HMAS Melbourne, a couple of Skyhawks were launched one day on a routine recco mission to Mars. When the big grey war canoe ran into rapidly deteriorating weather conditions, an "Immediate Charlie" recall to all aircraft was issued. No problem. The Skyhawk drivers merely popped their speed brakes, did a "slingshot" maneuver around the moon, and descended back to trap aboard.
Photograph courtesy of the Australian Naval Aircraft Museum: Mark Clayton, Director;, Windy Geale, Curator